Lamp fixture



2 Sheets-5h68?. 1

mvamoa i llfam e/ref Feb 1933. I w RHElNER 1,899,723 I LAMP FIXTURE Filed Feb. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll III /3 7i INVENTOR WE'JZ am Z er er yYBY ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM RHEINER, OIF DETROIT, MICHIGAN LAMP `FIXTURE Application led February 2, 1931. Serial No. 512,967..

This invention relates to a lamp fixture and refers more particularly to a iixture for an electric lamp or the like. I

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a fixture of the above mentioned character which will be extens1- ble to permit positioning of the lamp at variable distances from the support for the i'ixture. r

The invention further contemplates the provision of agravity actuated means for acilitating'the positioning of the lamp and the provision of a iixture which will be slmy ple in construction and yet thoroughly eilicient in operation.`

Numerous other objects and advantages Vof this inventionwill become moreapparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompany ing drawings, wherein:

Figure 1`is an elevational view showing a lamp fixture constructed in accordance with the `teachings of this'invention in both retracted and extended positions;

Figure 2 is an 'enlargedHA sectional view through a portion of the structure shown in Figure-1; l` 5' Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on theline 3 3of Figure 2';l

Figure 4 `is a sectional view taken'substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional View through another portion of they device'shown in Figure 1; and A y Figure 6 is an' enlarged sectional view similar to Figure 5 but showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring then particularly to the, drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a lamp fix- 40 ture which includesthe lamp bulbs' 10 supported by arms 11 which extend laterally from a housing 12. This yhousing is in turnV supported from the ceiling `13 of a room or the like r for movement from the position shown in' full lines in Figure 1 of the drawings to the position shown in Adotted lines therein.` `It isto be understood that while two arms 11 are shown as projecting from the housing 12,- any number of arms may be arranged to project from thishousing andl to hold these members in assembled these arms may belsha'ped in any desired manner to give the desired appearance to the iixture.

For supporting the housing 12 While providing for movement of the same in the above mentioned manner, the structure more clearly shown in Figures 2to 5, inclusive, vis y provided. By reference then to these figures it will be notedthat a plate 15` is fixed by screws or the'like 16 to the ceiling 13 or to 60 any other suitable support. This plate is provided centrally withthe aperture l17 to permit the passage therethrough of electric 'conduits 18 andis provided at a plurality of points around the'aperture 17 vrwith the de- 65 pending lugs or `projections 19, Secured* to these'projections las bythe bolts 2O is a plate 21 provided with a centrally arranged de-y pending tubular projection 22. -Thefspaced relation ofthe plate'21 from the plate 15 70 provides la chamber 23 for receiving the slack f inthe conduits 18 which is necessary to provide lfor the ready' attachment of these conduits to contacts,as will hereinafter be more fully described. Y 1, By reference to Figures 3 and4 of the drawings, it`will be noted that the member' 22 is substantially square in cross section and ittedinthis member is 'one end ora` tubular member 24 which is likewise substantially Vsquare in cross section. The member 24 extends downwardly to a* point a substantial" distance below the plate 21 and is preferably provide a pleasing appearance.

Fitted in the upper end of the member 24 are a pairof insulating blocks 25 and 26, these blocks being preferably held together by a bolt or the like 27. These insulator blocks support a pair of tubular contact mem bers 28f and 29 to which the ends of the electric leads 18 areconnected. Bolts 30 are threaded tliroughthe' member 22 and the upper end of the member 24 and engage the block 25 position formed of metal and is externally plated to 85 as will be readily apparent;V

Threaded in the lower ends of the contact members 28 and 29 are contact rodsBO and 31 which are provided adjacent their lower ends'with the enlarged portions 32. Sleeves in spaced relation to each other, metallic' tubes 38. These tubes are preferably provided on their outer peripheries with the in-` sulating Ysleeves 39 and areV provided at their lower ends with the contacts which are connected to electrical leads 41. .The tubes 38are so arrangedvas to slidably receive the enlarged ends 32 of the rods 30 and 31, the arrangement being such that the portions 32-of the rods are mounted for sliding movement within the tubes but Vhave electrical contactwith the inner peripheries thereof.,V Thus the enlargedportions 32 of the rods provide an electrical connection between the conduits 18 and thetubes 38, and thus vprovide for the supplying of electrical current tothe leads 41. Thus it will beV apparent that at any position of the telescopic movement of the member` 35 in the member 24, the'electrical leads 18 will be electrically connected tothe leads 41.

Fixed to the plate 21' and depending 'from the same are supports and journaled in these supports are pulleys 51. These pulleys mount a pair of chains 52 and one end of each of these chains is anchored to the upper edge of .a eupfshaped member 53 which is slidably mounted on the tubular member'24. The cup-shaped member is provided with a pair of tubularguides 54 through which the other ends of the chains pass, and vthese ends ofthe chains are connected to the lower end of the member 35 in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

`The member 53 provides means for counter-weighting or balancing the lamp fixi `ture carried by the lower end of the member 35. The member 53 being cup-shaped provides 'a chamber 55 in which weights or the like (not shown) may be positionedV so that the effective weight of this member may be varied to .give the desired balancing effect. If desired, a suitable cover 56 may be provided for the top of the cup-shaped member 53 while an escutcheon plate 57 is preferably fixedto the ceiling 13 in a position to enclose thepulleys 51 and the supporting plates 15 and 21.

Fixed to the lower end of the member 35 `as by the bolts 60 are angle members 61 and these members are slotted as at 62 to providev hooked to its respective member 61, this form of connection providing for adjustable connection of the chains to the member 35, as will be readily app-arent.

The bolts 61 also secure to the lower end of the member 35a bushing 65 which projects upwardly from a housing 66 which is provided with openings 67 for receiving the ends of the arms 11. The leads 41 extending from the tubes 38 may thus be divided and extended through theopenings 67 in the arms 11 for electrical connection to the lamps 10, as f will be readily apparent. The housing 12 provides means for enclosing the housing 66,

and is provided with the openings 68 to permit the passage therethrough of the chains The tubular ,member 24 is'provided adjacent its upper end with a plurality of openings 70 which communicateywith the atmosphere to prevent the creation of a pneumatic cushion or al vacuum in the member 24 upon 'the reciprocation of the ,memberv 35 in this member while the tubular members 38 are likewise provided with similar openings 71 for the same purpose. The member 35 is further provided radjacentits upper yends shown in full lines in Figure lyof the drawin'gsand will be heldin this position by the 'weight of the member 53 and the yweights therein acting through the'chains 52. Y Obviously, the housingr12; and associatedlamps may alsobefmoveddown'wardly to theposi- 1 tion shown in dotted lines in Figure lof the drawingsv or to any intermediate position'as desired. The enlarged portions y3,2 of the rods 30 and 31, sliding within the tubes V38 and being in electrical' engagementwith these tubes, )rovide means for electrically connecting the leads 18 tothe leads 41 in any posi-V tion of the housing 12 with the result that regardless of extension or retraction of the supporting fixture, electric current will-be supplied to the lamp bulbs.

- In the aboveembodiment of the invention, the supporting fixture is shown'as supporting a plurality of lamp bulbs. It willbereadily apparent, however, Vthat the invention will find equal'utility in supporting a single lamp bulb er socket, as clearly illustrated in l Figure Gof'the drawings. By reference to this figure it will be noted that the 'bolts 61 secure to the lower endof the tube 35 the upper half 8O of a lamp socket. The lower portion 81 of the lamp socket is threaded in the usual manner to receive a lamp bulb and is provided with the contacts 82 to which the leads 4l are electrically connected.

For securing the two halves of the la-m socket to each other, the upper half is pre erably provided with the tubular members S3 adapted to receive bolts 84 which are threaded in extensions 85 formed on the lower half of the socket member. Thus the two halves of the socket member may be firmly and quickly secured to each other without the exertion of a torque or turning force on the tube 35.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a supporting fixture for lamp bulbs, which fixture is extensible to provide for the movement of the lamp bulbs toward or away from the wall or support to which the supporting fixture is secured. The

invention provides slidable contacts for assuring an electrical connection between the leads and the lamp bulbs and provides means for counterbalancing the weight of the lamp bulbs so that these lamp bulbs may be held in any intermediate extended position.

Thile the invention has been described as being associated with a supporting fixture which is secured to a ceiling or the like, it will be readily apparent that the inventive principles may be incorporated in a desk lamp or the like, in which event the plate l5 or a similar member will be connected to a suitable supporting standard or the like. The right is therefore reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate, a tubular member fixed to said supporting plate and projecting downwardly therefrom, a second tubular member mounted for sliding movement within said first mentioned tubular member, a. lamp bulb carried by said second mentioned tubular member, electrical leads passing through said supporting plate, electrical leads for said lamp bulb, means for electrically connecting said first mentioned leads to said second mentioned leads irrespective of movement of said tubular members relative to each other, said means including a pair of rods connected to said first mentioned leads andftubular members connected to said's'econd mentioned leads for telescopically receiving said rods, a counterweight slidable on said first mentioned tubular member, and a connection between said counterweight and said second mentioned tubular member whereby said coun-- terweight balances the weight of said second mentioned tubular member and the lamp bulb supported thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, a

supporting plate, a tubular'member'fixed-to saidl supporting plate 4and projecting downwardly therefrom, a second tubular member telescopically engaging'said first mentioned second mentioned tubular member, electrical contacts carried by said tubular members and telescopically engaging each other for electrically connecting saidlamp bulb to a source of electric energy, a cup-shapedmember slidably mounted on said first mentioned tubular member and adapted to receive a plurality of weights, pulleys carried by said supporting plate, and flexible members secured to said cup-shaped member and passing over said pulleys and being connected at their other ends to said second mentioned tubular member whereby the said cup-shaped member and the weights y therein counterbalance the weight of said second mentioned tubular member and the lamp bulb carried thereby.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate, a tubular member fixed to said supporting plate and projecting downwardly therefrom, a second tubular member telescopically engaging said first mentioned tubular member, a lamp bulb carried by said second mentioned tubular member, electrical contacts carried by said tubular members and telescopically engaging each other for electrically connecting said lamp bulb to a source of electric energy, a cup-shaped member slidably mounted on said first mentioned tubular member and adapted to receive a plurality of weights, pulleys carried by said supporting plate, slotted members fixed to the lower end of said second mentioned tubular member, and chains connected to said cupshaped member and passing over said pulleys and adapted to be adjustably connectedto said slotted members wherebyV said cupshaped member and the weights therein counterbalance the weight of said second mentioned tubular member and the lamp -bulb supported thereby. y v

4. In a. device of the character described,

a supporting plate, a tubular member fixed to said plate and projecting downwardly therefrom, a second tubular member telescopically engaging saidl first mentioned'tubular member, a lamp` bulb support carried by said second mentioned tubular member, a pair of current carrying rods connected to and insulated from said supporting plate extending downwardly within said first mentioned tubular member, a pair of tubular electrical contact members electrically connected to said lamp bulb support arranged within said second mentioned tubular member, said current carrying rods having enlarged portions electrically contacting with the inner peripheries of said tubular members and slidable therein, a weighted cup shaped member slidably mounted on said first mentioned tubular member, pulleys carried by said supporting n' tubular member,- ak lamp bulb carried by said plate, Chains secured tothe peripheryfof said cup shaped member passing over said pulleys andv downwardly through openings in said cup-shaped members to the lamp bulb support,`and connections between said chains and lamp bulb support providing for adjustment of said chains relative tosaid support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM RHEINER. 

